"It comes down to quality, not quantity. We have a fantastic relationship with Microsoft. It just boiled down to, okay, how can we hit this as hard as can and get it on as many platforms as possible and deliver the quality, the 60 hertz, out of the gate? That was the goal."

1. PS4 has the same x86 architecture as the XONE & PC.
2. PS4 is very probably more powerful than the XONE, if not, at the very least, equally as powerful.
3. Countless developers have said it's not even 1/10th the effort/development time to transfer the code to any given platform this generation.

So with all that in mind, what is actually stopping a PS4 version of Titanfall? Was the 'We have a fantastic relationship with Microsoft' sentence just read-between-the-lines code for:

'Look guys, we are a new studio with a new IP; Microsoft are giving us some guaranteed cash right off the bat. Just chillax, we'll have an 'enhanced edition' ready for PS4 as soon as Microsoft's contract says we can.'

You just answered your own question.

That was pointless .

Yeah, you answered your own question. They're a new studio that could probably use some upfront capital, and Microsoft was willing to get behind their pedigree and provide them with some funding to in exchange for some sort of exclusivity window.

Surely I must be missing something. Surely it can't be this rotten.

Well that's all wrapped up then.

WWAAIIITTT a second here, are you saying that console manufacturers are giving money hats to developers?

ALERT TEH PRESSEZZZ!

You made a funny. :D

@jasonleeson: What do you find so rotten about it? New studios need money. Microsoft was willing and able to provide some, but of course, they expect something in exchange for that investment. That's the way business is done.

An exchange of goods and/or services for monetary gain.

Well, they have to pay their bills somehow.

Rotten? Its called business...

@chaser324: Totally agree with everything you just said, only applied to their publisher EA. Publishers investing upfront for a return feels like legit business.

However, Microsoft paying for it not to come out on PS4 out the gate feels fucked this generation. Last gen there was kind of an excuse with CELL vs. PowerPC...there was a legit technical reason for games to focus on one platform. This time it's pure money. That's my issue.

But its ok for Sony to buy exclusives?

@jasonleeson: Even though cross gen development is far easier because of the similar architectures, you still don't get the PS4 version for free when you develop an Xbox One game or vice versa.

At the end of the day though, it really is just business. Microsoft didn't swindle or coerce Respawn into this deal. Respawn did the math and decided the exclusivity window was worth it for the investment. Developing AAA games isn't getting any cheaper.

They're done with P2P multiplayer, and Microsoft made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

I personally talked to both Microsoft and Sony and explained that we need to find a way to have potentially hundreds-of-thousands of dedicated servers at a price point that you can’t get right now. Microsoft realized that player-hosted servers are actually holding back online gaming and that this is something that they could help solve, and ran full-speed with this idea.

http://www.respawn.com/news/lets-talk-about-the-xbox-live-cloud/

@the_laughing_man: Now now, I didn't say that.

You HEAVILY implied that. You think stuff PS4 on it exclusive/timed they did not pay for?

I'd bet money that Respawn / EA approached Microsoft, and not the other way around, but the game is also coming to the PC, so it's not like you need to get an Xbone.

@the_laughing_man said:

It's only okay if your team does it. You know how that works.

@chaser324: I guess I'm just bummed that EA couldn't put up the cash to get it out on PS4/XONE/PC day-and-date and just let the chips fall where they may (in terms of what system people decide to buy on the strength of it. I'm not one of those people, but they are certainly out there.)

It's interesting to take a purely analytic look at: Where the fuck is the line actually drawn between what's classed as a straight up bribe and a next-gen 3rd party exclusivity deal. That shit starts to get real grey area.

Yea, it's a "timed exclusive". They happen all the time, don't know why so many people are confused...

Here's the thing: Respawn is an independent studio. Their deal with EA is like that of the EA Partners stuff. Their funding had to come from somewhere, and Microsoft stepped up and either made an offer, or bested Sony's offer.

I would bet that it came down to choosing a horse to back. Sony picked Bungie and MS picked Respawn. Granted, what MS gets out their deal is considerably greater than what Sony is getting with Destiny, but they each want a flagship multiplayer game, and they each chose a different game

I doubt EA would publish the game on PS4 after the exclusivity window closes. I mean, they want to be loyal and surely they don't need any more money? Right? Right?

Hold the phone here...a console exclusive?

What?

Dude, what???

Shut it down video games are DONE

Are you seriously asking why there are console exclusives?

Am i allowed to bitch about not being able to play The Last of Us? What the fuck naughty dog?! why not just make it for xbox?! This guy said its super easy!

Is Titanfall the new Bayonetta 2? Should I expect petitions on change.org soon?

What the hell are you trying to say? Microsoft got an exclusive franchise. Is their something wrong with that?

Man, it's like the reality of business are something for Respawn to consider...

@hailinel said:

Soon? I'm sure hundreds of Titanfall on PS4 online petitions have already been created and summarily dismissed.

For-profit businesses making decisions based on money? Outrage!

I totally get that it's business. But I just wish there was a developer out there with the balls to admit it.

Fuck all this 'We're so exited to bring our fans the BLA BLA BLA'. Just straight up come out and say 'People are gonna buy the fuck outta this game. We predict a metric fuckton of cash all up in our faces by the end of this fiscal year.'

Is there a company like that anywhere?

You don't garner good business relations by taking money from the hands of one company and spitting in their face by saying "we're going to promote the fact that we will try to release on your competitor's platform."

It's the same story with any exclusive these days. Especially in the light of just how similar the consoles of this generation, and the next are. The only incentive for a developer to create an exclusive game is for the maker of that console to subsidize them the income they are losing by not putting it on multiple platforms. Unless you're talking small indie developer who might not be able to publish on more than one platform due to lack of porting ability or monetary considerations.

Since it is EA publishing, the good thing is that it is probably just a matter of a year or so before it comes to PS4, which still sucks sort of a dick.

The more relevant concern though is now long can Respawn keep EA at bay? How long before Titanfall 2 gets consumed by the incredible blandless that permeates every EA game ever. Just thinking of Dead Space 3 and Fuse sends chills down my spine man. Not even talking about the free to play microtransaction nicke and diming hell either, which will almost certainly become a giant problem some time in the future as well.

Buy an Xbone duder if you wanna play Titanfall so bad. :)

@jasonleeson: Respawn wants money to make their game. Microsoft wants a game that will sell consoles. They come to an agreement where everyone wins. What exactly is shady about the whole thing? I'm not sure where you're from but over here in North America we're not really that pumped about communism.

You know, you're right. What was I thinking?

And this in mind, I really can't fault Respawn for cutting this deal with Microsoft. The EA Partners program, while a great idea that resulted in quality titles, did absolutely nothing to market or promote those titles in a meaningful way.

Titanfall 2 on PS4, does not mean the same thing that Titanfall will ever-ever come to PS4.

No, we must go further. https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petitions

money hat.

Oh thank God. There are four different change.org petitions for a PS4 release, with one made by a bastardly named gentleman "MLG_Gunnplay". Wonderful.

Who cares? Odds are Titanfall will run better on a PC anyways. Upgrade instead of buying a console just for a first person shooter where the gimmick is climbing into larger robotic men with bigger guns.

This is normal PR talk. Things with Microsoft are peachy until the point that the game is not anymore an exclusive to that platform.

Even Phil Fish was telling us how wonderful Microsoft was as a publisher until his publishing contract with Microsoft ran out.

"I'ma play some Titan you guys down for a few rounds?"

Rolls off the tongue OK, but 'cod' sounds easier.

I know it is totally off-topic but: WTF is this petition.

On-topic: Yeah, remember how Heavy Rain was "only possible on the amazing PS3?" fast forward a few years and it turns out it is only an exclusive because Microsoft turned them down.

@nictel: Well technically that's true. Only possible on the amazing PS3 because Microsoft didn't want to contract David Cage-itis.

I believe this song sums every decision in this industry these days.

The people at Respawn have been asked "Why Xbox One?" a few times. It comes down to Microsoft was the one willing sight unseen to support the 'server infrastructure' and other concession needed right away.

That doesn't mean Sony can't or won't, it just means sigh unseen Sony wasn't willing to commit to the game before it was even a game.

The game will come to PS4. It will come; Respawn knows it, EA knows it, Microsoft knows it, and Sony knows it. And, I rather doubt Microsoft, even if it wanted to give EA millions, would find EA willing to sell exclusivity. EA knows that Titanfall is about as close to a "CoD" as it will ever have. That means Titanfall, as a series, is worth BILLIONS. To buy exclusivity MS would have to give EA billions, and they won't/can't do it.